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USA - California - Napa - Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer Notes

What to do when you find the land you purchased for retirement is, in fact, perfectly suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon...in Napa? Plant a vineyard and start a new career. Teresa Norton and Tom Paine did just that in 1989, planting 3 acres under the direction of legendary vineyard manager David Abreu. In 1992 the first vintage was released - 250 cases of estate Cabernet. Philippe Melka became...
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Dark ruby. Roasted cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate and exotic spices on the nose, along with a floral note. Juicy, bright cassis flavor shows a slightly jammy aspect. Good intensity but only moderate real depth of flavor. Finishes with slightly dry tannins. I don't find the density that a barrel sample displayed a year ago.

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WA
90

Source Wine Advocate

Issue 132

Drink Dates
2000-2015

This small vineyard changed ownership during the last year. The 1998 was produced by well-known winemaker, Heidi Barrett. The 1998, made from a 3-acre, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted with the "Grace" clone of Cabernet, is an undeniable success for the vintage. Aged 20 months in wood, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a pure, sweet nose of black currants, spice, licorice, and tobacco. Soft and full-bodied, with supple tannin, outstanding concentration, and excellent balance, it will drink beautifully for 15+ years. The new owner hopes to slowly augment the production of Vineyard 29 to 2,000 cases in three years, and to 4,000-5,000 cases within five years.

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WS
86

Source Wine Spectator

Drink Dates
2002-2009

A very good '98, but shows the shortcomings of the vintage in its dryness and lack of depth. Herb- and cherry-laced, with an earthy, leathery cherry and dry currant flavor, turning firmly tannic. 600 cases made.

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VF
90

Source Vinfolio

Drink Dates
2000-2008

I missed tasting this wine upon release. However, with the strength of Heidi Barrett at the reins and the legacy of the Grace clone, this wine didn't need much help selling.
Recent tasting has shown a deeper integration of the flavors away from the complexity noted below by Parker, upon release. The black fruit and licorice are subtly toned down by additional hints of Asian smoked tea and tobacco. The length is there, but it drinks like a claret.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Community Tasting Notes
average score of 89 points based upon 2 reviews

WinePosts

A flawed bottle may be affected by cork taint, heat (maderized), oxidation, or excessive sulfur. Additionally, some people consider wines tainted by Brettanomyces (Brett), a non-spore forming genus of yeast, a flaw although there is much controversy surrounding the subject.

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Drink date is averaged using VinCellar members' most recent start and end drink date submissions for this wine.